Abduction (36 page)
Authors: Robin Cook
Tags: #Fiction, #Suspense, #Onbekend, #Unabridged Audio - Fiction, #Suspense & Thriller
"Correct!" Harvey said. "Two, four, as many as you can get, and not clones, because they don't count.
And a word of caution: the clones don't mind violence. They do whatever they are told." "Slick!" Donald commented. "It's a multiple threat built into one." "Correct," Harvey said proudly. "And you don't have to monkey around with this TV camera nonsense."
"I like it," Donald said. "How about you going out and telling Richard to hold up on removing the camcorder. I just want to check the gas pressures, and I'll be right out." "You promise you'll be taking me," Harvey said. "You're going," Donald said. "Stop worrying."
And a word of caution: the clones don't mind violence. They do whatever they are told." "Slick!" Donald commented. "It's a multiple threat built into one." "Correct," Harvey said proudly. "And you don't have to monkey around with this TV camera nonsense."
"I like it," Donald said. "How about you going out and telling Richard to hold up on removing the camcorder. I just want to check the gas pressures, and I'll be right out." "You promise you'll be taking me," Harvey said. "You're going," Donald said. "Stop worrying."
"All right, hold up!" Perry ordered. "Either you know where you are going or you don't. We've been wandering around in here like a couple of dopes for twenty minutes. Where are the goddamn weapons?" Michael shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I get lost in museums even in the daytime." "Try to remember something about the gallery," Perry said. "I remember it was long and narrow," Michael said. "What was it near? Can you remember anything like that?" "Wait a second," Michael said. "Now I remember. It was behind a door that said we were supposed to get permission from the Council of Elders to enter." "I haven't seen many doors," Perry said as his eyes scanned the immediate area. "And there are none here so obviously we're not in the right place." "I also remember we'd stopped in a gallery filled with Persian carpets," Michael said. "It's coming back to me now. The carpets were beyond the room with all the Renaissance stuff." "That's a start," Perry said. "I know where that gallery is. Come on! Follow me for a change!" A few minutes later the two men were standing outside the door with the restricted entry admonition. It was located near the window they'd climbed in. "Is this it?" Perry asked. "If it is, we've come full circle." "I think so." He reached around Perry, pushed the door open, and glanced inside. "Pay dirt!" he exclaimed.
"It's about time," Perry grumbled as he entered. "The others are going to start thinking we got lost, so we'd better make this snappy."
"What should we take?" Michael asked.
The two men stopped just inside the door while Perry looked up and down the dimly lit room. He was
impressed with the room's length and the subsequent square footage the shelving afforded. "This is more than I expected!" he commented. "We've got quite a selection in here." "The older stuff is to the right, newer to the left," Michael said. "I guess it doesn't matter what we take as long as it functions," Perry said, "and as long as I find the Luger."
"I know one thing I want," Michael said. He reached over and picked up the crossbow and its quiver. As he did so he nicked his finger. "Jeez, these arrow points are razor sharp." "Those are quarrels, or bolts, not arrows," Perry said. "Whatever," Michael said. "They're damn sharp." "Do you remember which way the Luger was?" "To the left, Bozo," Michael said.
"Don't call me Bozo," Perry warned.
"Well, I just got finished telling you the modern stuff was to the left." Perry set out without responding to Michael's last comment. It irritated him that he had to put up with the divers. He had never been forced to spend time with two more juvenile idiots in his life. Michael turned and went the other way. As long as everything was water-damaged and barnacle-encrusted, he thought the ancient armaments would be better since, in their simplicity, there were fewer working parts for the salt water to foul up. Soon he was in an area with a superb collection of ancient Greek weapons. He gathered an armful of short swords, daggers, and shields along with several helmets, greaves, and a brace of breastplates. What impressed him was the worked gold and the encrusted jewels he could see despite the darkness. Thus encumbered he clanked his way back to the door they'd entered.
"Any luck yet?" Michael called out to Perry. "Not yet," Perry called back. "Just a bunch of rusted rifles." "I'm going to take this stuff I got back to the window." "All right, I'll be there as soon as I find the pistol." Michael added the crossbow to his burden and then struggled with the door. No sooner had he taken a step into the hall than he collided with Richard. Michael whimpered and dropped everything he was carrying. The heavy gold and bronze implements made a tremendous clatter against the marble floor. "Shut up, you ass!" Richard hissed. The racket exploding in the silence of the dark, deserted museum
impressed with the room's length and the subsequent square footage the shelving afforded. "This is more than I expected!" he commented. "We've got quite a selection in here." "The older stuff is to the right, newer to the left," Michael said. "I guess it doesn't matter what we take as long as it functions," Perry said, "and as long as I find the Luger."
"I know one thing I want," Michael said. He reached over and picked up the crossbow and its quiver. As he did so he nicked his finger. "Jeez, these arrow points are razor sharp." "Those are quarrels, or bolts, not arrows," Perry said. "Whatever," Michael said. "They're damn sharp." "Do you remember which way the Luger was?" "To the left, Bozo," Michael said.
"Don't call me Bozo," Perry warned.
"Well, I just got finished telling you the modern stuff was to the left." Perry set out without responding to Michael's last comment. It irritated him that he had to put up with the divers. He had never been forced to spend time with two more juvenile idiots in his life. Michael turned and went the other way. As long as everything was water-damaged and barnacle-encrusted, he thought the ancient armaments would be better since, in their simplicity, there were fewer working parts for the salt water to foul up. Soon he was in an area with a superb collection of ancient Greek weapons. He gathered an armful of short swords, daggers, and shields along with several helmets, greaves, and a brace of breastplates. What impressed him was the worked gold and the encrusted jewels he could see despite the darkness. Thus encumbered he clanked his way back to the door they'd entered.
"Any luck yet?" Michael called out to Perry. "Not yet," Perry called back. "Just a bunch of rusted rifles." "I'm going to take this stuff I got back to the window." "All right, I'll be there as soon as I find the pistol." Michael added the crossbow to his burden and then struggled with the door. No sooner had he taken a step into the hall than he collided with Richard. Michael whimpered and dropped everything he was carrying. The heavy gold and bronze implements made a tremendous clatter against the marble floor. "Shut up, you ass!" Richard hissed. The racket exploding in the silence of the dark, deserted museum
had scared him as much as the unexpected encounter had scared Michael.
"What do you mean sneaking in here and scaring me shitless?" Michael spat. "What the hell's been taking you so long?" Richard demanded. "We couldn't find the room, okay?"
Perry appeared in the doorway. "Good God, what on earth are you guys doing? Trying to wake up the entire city?"
"It wasn't my fault," Michael said as he bent down to retrieve his booty. "Did you guys find the Luger?" Richard asked. "Not yet," Perry said. "Where's Donald?" "He's already on his way back to the visitors' palace," Richard said. "There's been a change in plans. The old fart Harvey Goldfarb was hiding in the submersible, and he's come up with a new and better escape plan for us."
"Really?" Perry questioned. "What is it?" "We're going to take hostages," Richard said. "He says the Interterrans are so afraid of violent death that they'd do anything, including letting us out into the ocean with the submersible, if we got a couple of their people and threaten to do them in." "I like it," Perry said. "But why did Donald go back before us?" "He's worried about Suzanne, especially now that things look so promising. But he told me to tell you to get a move on it; as soon as you're ready I'll call an air taxi to get us back." "All right," Perry said. "Both of you come on in here. With all of us looking for the damn pistol we should be able to find it a lot faster."
"What do you mean sneaking in here and scaring me shitless?" Michael spat. "What the hell's been taking you so long?" Richard demanded. "We couldn't find the room, okay?"
Perry appeared in the doorway. "Good God, what on earth are you guys doing? Trying to wake up the entire city?"
"It wasn't my fault," Michael said as he bent down to retrieve his booty. "Did you guys find the Luger?" Richard asked. "Not yet," Perry said. "Where's Donald?" "He's already on his way back to the visitors' palace," Richard said. "There's been a change in plans. The old fart Harvey Goldfarb was hiding in the submersible, and he's come up with a new and better escape plan for us."
"Really?" Perry questioned. "What is it?" "We're going to take hostages," Richard said. "He says the Interterrans are so afraid of violent death that they'd do anything, including letting us out into the ocean with the submersible, if we got a couple of their people and threaten to do them in." "I like it," Perry said. "But why did Donald go back before us?" "He's worried about Suzanne, especially now that things look so promising. But he told me to tell you to get a move on it; as soon as you're ready I'll call an air taxi to get us back." "All right," Perry said. "Both of you come on in here. With all of us looking for the damn pistol we should be able to find it a lot faster."
The air taxi came to a halt and opened. It was hovering directly in front of the visitors' palace dining room. Richard and Michael disembarked with some difficulty, both weighed down with an array of ancient armament. All Perry was carrying was the Luger, which he'd finally found. The three made their way up the ramp to the door. Both divers had donned the breastplates, helmets, and greaves rather than carry them in their arms. It was enough to be holding the shields, swords, daggers, and crossbow. Perry had tried to talk them out of taking the armor, but they were determined, and he gave up trying to reason with them. Michael and Richard were convinced in their words that the stuff was going to be worth a fortune topside. To their surprise the dining room was empty. "That's odd," Richard said. "He told me to meet him here."
"You don't suppose he's planning on bugging out of here without us, do you?" Michael questioned.
"I don't know," Richard responded. "The idea never occurred to me." "He's not going without us," Perry assured the two divers. "We just saw the
Oceanus
still parked where it's always been, and he's not going anyplace without that." "How about Suzanne's room?" Michael suggested. "I'd say that's a good possibility," Perry said. The long walk across the lawn was significantly noisy thanks to the continual clatter of the ancient armor. "You guys sound ridiculous," Perry commented. "We didn't ask for your opinion," Richard said. As they rounded the open end of Suzanne's cottage they saw Donald, Suzanne, and Harvey sitting in contour chairs near the pool's edge. It was obvious the atmosphere was tense. "What's wrong?" Perry questioned.
"We've got a problem," Donald said. "Suzanne's not sure we're doing the right thing." "Why not, Suzanne?" Perry asked.
"Because murder is wrong," Suzanne said. "If we take hostages to the surface world without adaptation, they will die, plain and simple. We brought violence and death here and now we want to escape by it. I say it's ethically despicable."
"Yeah, but I didn't ask to come here," Perry said hotly. "I don't like to sound like a broken record, but we're being held against our will. I think that justifies violence." "But that's confusing ends with means," Suzanne said. "That's exactly what we're supposed to be against."
"All I know is that I have a family that I miss," Perry said. "I'm going to see them again come hell or high water!"
"I empathize with you," Suzanne said. "Truly! And I feel responsible about the whole situation. And it is true we were abducted. But I don't want to see any more deaths, nor do I want to see Interterra unwittingly destroyed. We're ethically obligated to negotiate. These people are so peaceful." "Peaceful?" Richard questioned. "I'd say boring!" "I can vouch for that," Harvey said.
"Perry, this is Harvey Goldfarb," Donald said. Perry and Harvey shook hands.
"I don't know," Richard responded. "The idea never occurred to me." "He's not going without us," Perry assured the two divers. "We just saw the
Oceanus
still parked where it's always been, and he's not going anyplace without that." "How about Suzanne's room?" Michael suggested. "I'd say that's a good possibility," Perry said. The long walk across the lawn was significantly noisy thanks to the continual clatter of the ancient armor. "You guys sound ridiculous," Perry commented. "We didn't ask for your opinion," Richard said. As they rounded the open end of Suzanne's cottage they saw Donald, Suzanne, and Harvey sitting in contour chairs near the pool's edge. It was obvious the atmosphere was tense. "What's wrong?" Perry questioned.
"We've got a problem," Donald said. "Suzanne's not sure we're doing the right thing." "Why not, Suzanne?" Perry asked.
"Because murder is wrong," Suzanne said. "If we take hostages to the surface world without adaptation, they will die, plain and simple. We brought violence and death here and now we want to escape by it. I say it's ethically despicable."
"Yeah, but I didn't ask to come here," Perry said hotly. "I don't like to sound like a broken record, but we're being held against our will. I think that justifies violence." "But that's confusing ends with means," Suzanne said. "That's exactly what we're supposed to be against."
"All I know is that I have a family that I miss," Perry said. "I'm going to see them again come hell or high water!"
"I empathize with you," Suzanne said. "Truly! And I feel responsible about the whole situation. And it is true we were abducted. But I don't want to see any more deaths, nor do I want to see Interterra unwittingly destroyed. We're ethically obligated to negotiate. These people are so peaceful." "Peaceful?" Richard questioned. "I'd say boring!" "I can vouch for that," Harvey said.
"Perry, this is Harvey Goldfarb," Donald said. Perry and Harvey shook hands.
"I don't know what we're supposed to negotiate," Donald said. "Arak made it clear we're here for
good, no buts, ifs, or maybes. A statement like that precludes negotiation." "I think we should let a little more time pass," Suzanne said. "What's wrong with that? Maybe we will change our minds, or maybe we'll be able to convince them to alter theirs. We've got to remember that we've all brought down here our personalities and psychological baggage geared to the world above, plus we're so accustomed to seeing ourselves as the 'good guys' that it's difficult to realize when we are the monsters."
"I don't feel like a monster," Perry said. "I don't belong here." "Me neither," Michael said.
"Let me make another point," Suzanne said. "For the sake of argument, let's say we manage to get out of here. What happens then? Do we reveal Interterra's existence?" "It will be hard not to," Donald said. "Where would we say we've been for the last month or however long it's been?"
"And what about me?" Harvey said. "I've been here for almost ninety years." "That's even harder to explain," Donald agreed. "We'd also have to have some explanation where we got all the gold and armor," Richard said. " 'Cause this stuff's going with me."
"And what about the economic possibilities of our serving as intermediaries?" Perry said. "We could help both sides and end up millionaires many times over. Just the wrist communicators alone will cause a technological sensation."
"I rest my case," Suzanne said. "One way or the other we'd be exposing Interterra. Stop and think about our civilization and its exploitive greed. We don't like to think of ourselves in that light, but it's true. We are selfish, both as individuals and as nations. There'd be a confrontation without doubt, and as advanced as the Interterran civilization is, with power and weapons we cannot even imagine, it will be a disaster, maybe even the end of the world as far as secondary humans are concerned." For several minutes no one spoke.
"I don't care about all that crap," Richard said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I want out of here." "No question," Michael chimed in.
"Me, too," Perry said.
"Ditto," Donald said. "Once we're out, we can negotiate with these Interterrans. At least at that point it will be a real negotiation without them dictating to us." "What about you, Harvey?" Perry asked.
"I've been dreaming about getting out for years," Harvey said.
good, no buts, ifs, or maybes. A statement like that precludes negotiation." "I think we should let a little more time pass," Suzanne said. "What's wrong with that? Maybe we will change our minds, or maybe we'll be able to convince them to alter theirs. We've got to remember that we've all brought down here our personalities and psychological baggage geared to the world above, plus we're so accustomed to seeing ourselves as the 'good guys' that it's difficult to realize when we are the monsters."
"I don't feel like a monster," Perry said. "I don't belong here." "Me neither," Michael said.
"Let me make another point," Suzanne said. "For the sake of argument, let's say we manage to get out of here. What happens then? Do we reveal Interterra's existence?" "It will be hard not to," Donald said. "Where would we say we've been for the last month or however long it's been?"
"And what about me?" Harvey said. "I've been here for almost ninety years." "That's even harder to explain," Donald agreed. "We'd also have to have some explanation where we got all the gold and armor," Richard said. " 'Cause this stuff's going with me."
"And what about the economic possibilities of our serving as intermediaries?" Perry said. "We could help both sides and end up millionaires many times over. Just the wrist communicators alone will cause a technological sensation."
"I rest my case," Suzanne said. "One way or the other we'd be exposing Interterra. Stop and think about our civilization and its exploitive greed. We don't like to think of ourselves in that light, but it's true. We are selfish, both as individuals and as nations. There'd be a confrontation without doubt, and as advanced as the Interterran civilization is, with power and weapons we cannot even imagine, it will be a disaster, maybe even the end of the world as far as secondary humans are concerned." For several minutes no one spoke.
"I don't care about all that crap," Richard said suddenly, breaking the silence. "I want out of here." "No question," Michael chimed in.
"Me, too," Perry said.
"Ditto," Donald said. "Once we're out, we can negotiate with these Interterrans. At least at that point it will be a real negotiation without them dictating to us." "What about you, Harvey?" Perry asked.
"I've been dreaming about getting out for years," Harvey said.
"It's decided, then," Donald said. "We're going!"
"Not me," Suzanne said. "I don't want any more deaths on my conscience. Maybe it's because I don't have any immediate family, but I'm willing to give Interterra a chance. I know I've got a lot of adjusting to do, but I like paradise. It's worth a bit of self-examination." "I'm sorry, Suzanne," Donald said, staring her in the eye. "If we go, you go. Your high moral standards are not going to screw up our plan."
"What are you going to do, force me to go?" Suzanne demanded irritably. "Absolutely," Donald said. "Let me remind you, field commanders have been known to shoot their own men if the men's behavior threatens to compromise an operation." Suzanne didn't respond. Instead she slowly looked around at the others in the room. Her expression was blank. No one made a motion in her defense. "Let's get back to business," Donald said finally. "Did you get the Luger?" "We did," Perry reported. "It was hard to find, but we managed." "Let me see it," Donald said.
As Perry took the pistol out of his tunic pocket, Suzanne bolted from the room. Richard was the first to respond. Dropping what he had in his hands, and disregarding the armor he was wearing, he raced out into the night after her. Thanks to his superb physical shape he was able to close the gap quickly and managed to get hold of Suzanne's wrist. He pulled her to a stop. Both were panting. "You're playing into Donald's hands," Richard managed to say between breaths. "As if I care," Suzanne replied. "Let me go!" "He'll shoot you," Richard said. "He loves playing this military crap. I'm warning you." Suzanne struggled for a moment in an attempt to free herself, but it was soon clear that Richard was not about to let her go. The others arrived and gathered round. Donald was holding the Luger. "You're forcing me to act," Donald said menacingly. "I hope you realize that."
"Who is forcing whom?" Suzanne asked scornfully. "Bring her back inside!" Donald said. "We have to resolve this once and for all." He started back toward the cottage. The others followed with Richard maintaining an iron grip on Suzanne's wrist. She tried briefly to struggle but quickly became resigned to be dragged back toward her room. "Bring her in and sit her down," Donald called over his shoulder as the group rounded the pool. Coming into the light Richard noticed how blue Suzanne's hand had become. Concerned about her circulation, he loosened his hold. The instant he did, she yanked herself free and straight-armed him with
"Not me," Suzanne said. "I don't want any more deaths on my conscience. Maybe it's because I don't have any immediate family, but I'm willing to give Interterra a chance. I know I've got a lot of adjusting to do, but I like paradise. It's worth a bit of self-examination." "I'm sorry, Suzanne," Donald said, staring her in the eye. "If we go, you go. Your high moral standards are not going to screw up our plan."
"What are you going to do, force me to go?" Suzanne demanded irritably. "Absolutely," Donald said. "Let me remind you, field commanders have been known to shoot their own men if the men's behavior threatens to compromise an operation." Suzanne didn't respond. Instead she slowly looked around at the others in the room. Her expression was blank. No one made a motion in her defense. "Let's get back to business," Donald said finally. "Did you get the Luger?" "We did," Perry reported. "It was hard to find, but we managed." "Let me see it," Donald said.
As Perry took the pistol out of his tunic pocket, Suzanne bolted from the room. Richard was the first to respond. Dropping what he had in his hands, and disregarding the armor he was wearing, he raced out into the night after her. Thanks to his superb physical shape he was able to close the gap quickly and managed to get hold of Suzanne's wrist. He pulled her to a stop. Both were panting. "You're playing into Donald's hands," Richard managed to say between breaths. "As if I care," Suzanne replied. "Let me go!" "He'll shoot you," Richard said. "He loves playing this military crap. I'm warning you." Suzanne struggled for a moment in an attempt to free herself, but it was soon clear that Richard was not about to let her go. The others arrived and gathered round. Donald was holding the Luger. "You're forcing me to act," Donald said menacingly. "I hope you realize that."
"Who is forcing whom?" Suzanne asked scornfully. "Bring her back inside!" Donald said. "We have to resolve this once and for all." He started back toward the cottage. The others followed with Richard maintaining an iron grip on Suzanne's wrist. She tried briefly to struggle but quickly became resigned to be dragged back toward her room. "Bring her in and sit her down," Donald called over his shoulder as the group rounded the pool. Coming into the light Richard noticed how blue Suzanne's hand had become. Concerned about her circulation, he loosened his hold. The instant he did, she yanked herself free and straight-armed him with
a resounding thump in the center of his chest. Caught off guard, Richard toppled into the deep end of the
pool. Suzanne bolted back out into the night. With the heavy armor dragging him under the surface, Richard floundered despite his being a powerful and accomplished swimmer. Donald tossed the pistol onto one of the contour chairs and dove into the water. Perry and Michael did what they could from the pool's edge until they realized that Suzanne had escaped yet again.
"Get her!" Perry cried. "I'll help here." Michael took off and the effort expended gave him unqualified respect for the famed hoplites of old, and he wondered how those ancient warriors had managed considering the weight of their armor. He found the breastplate particularly difficult to run in although the heavy helmet and greaves did not help either. Once clear of the cone of light emanating from the interior, he clanked to a halt. Without being dark adapted he was blinded by the darkness. Suzanne was nowhere to be seen although she'd had only a minute or so head start.
As the minutes ticked by and his eyes adjusted, details of the scene emerged from the gloom but still no Suzanne. Then, sudden movement and a startling patch of bright light off to his right got his attention. When he looked his heart leaped. It was an air taxi that had arrived and opened some fifty yards away in the vicinity of the dining hall.
Michael took off running again with his strong legs pumping. As he rapidly closed on the craft, he knew it was going to be close. Ahead he could see Suzanne clamber aboard and throw herself onto the banquette with her right hand palm down on the central table. "No!" Michael yelled as he launched himself at the taxi's port. But he was too late. What had been an opening only moments earlier was now the seamless cowling of the air taxi. Michael collided against it and ricocheted off with the clang of metal against metal. The collision knocked him to the ground and the helmet from his head. In the next instant the air taxi ascended with a whoosh, leaving Michael momentarily weightless in its wake. Like a helium balloon he floated free from the ground for almost a foot before falling back like a dead weight. The second collision knocked the wind out of him. He writhed on the ground. When he managed to catch his breath, he scrambled to his feet and made his way back to the cottage. By then, the others had gotten the sodden Richard into one of the contour chairs, where he was coughing deeply. Donald looked up as Michael charged in. "Where the hell is she?" "She got away in an air taxi!" Michael gasped. "You let her get away?" Donald cried. He stood up from where he was squatting next to Richard. He was incensed.
"I couldn't stop her," Michael said. "She must have called the damn taxi the second she left here." "Christ!" Donald said. He put a hand to his forehead and shook his head. "Such incompetence! I can't believe it!"
"Hey, I did what I could," Michael complained.
pool. Suzanne bolted back out into the night. With the heavy armor dragging him under the surface, Richard floundered despite his being a powerful and accomplished swimmer. Donald tossed the pistol onto one of the contour chairs and dove into the water. Perry and Michael did what they could from the pool's edge until they realized that Suzanne had escaped yet again.
"Get her!" Perry cried. "I'll help here." Michael took off and the effort expended gave him unqualified respect for the famed hoplites of old, and he wondered how those ancient warriors had managed considering the weight of their armor. He found the breastplate particularly difficult to run in although the heavy helmet and greaves did not help either. Once clear of the cone of light emanating from the interior, he clanked to a halt. Without being dark adapted he was blinded by the darkness. Suzanne was nowhere to be seen although she'd had only a minute or so head start.
As the minutes ticked by and his eyes adjusted, details of the scene emerged from the gloom but still no Suzanne. Then, sudden movement and a startling patch of bright light off to his right got his attention. When he looked his heart leaped. It was an air taxi that had arrived and opened some fifty yards away in the vicinity of the dining hall.
Michael took off running again with his strong legs pumping. As he rapidly closed on the craft, he knew it was going to be close. Ahead he could see Suzanne clamber aboard and throw herself onto the banquette with her right hand palm down on the central table. "No!" Michael yelled as he launched himself at the taxi's port. But he was too late. What had been an opening only moments earlier was now the seamless cowling of the air taxi. Michael collided against it and ricocheted off with the clang of metal against metal. The collision knocked him to the ground and the helmet from his head. In the next instant the air taxi ascended with a whoosh, leaving Michael momentarily weightless in its wake. Like a helium balloon he floated free from the ground for almost a foot before falling back like a dead weight. The second collision knocked the wind out of him. He writhed on the ground. When he managed to catch his breath, he scrambled to his feet and made his way back to the cottage. By then, the others had gotten the sodden Richard into one of the contour chairs, where he was coughing deeply. Donald looked up as Michael charged in. "Where the hell is she?" "She got away in an air taxi!" Michael gasped. "You let her get away?" Donald cried. He stood up from where he was squatting next to Richard. He was incensed.
"I couldn't stop her," Michael said. "She must have called the damn taxi the second she left here." "Christ!" Donald said. He put a hand to his forehead and shook his head. "Such incompetence! I can't believe it!"
"Hey, I did what I could," Michael complained.
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